That's impressive! Best I've had is a construction staple in my commuter.. although, I'm not sure I want to win this competition.
I've been involved in competition for most of my life--on horses. Since I've had to get out of that, I still itch for something to compete in as it gives me additional motivation.All this makes me glad I'm not competitive. It doesn't sound fun in any manner! Ride for fun, when you want.
So, yeah, we'll see if my short-term amnesia kicks in again next year when these races come around again. I'd be better off volunteering for them, I think.
Holy cow, you were moving! We want to get into Montana to ride more, but towing our trailer with diesel prices right now is holding us back. I'm so impressed!THAT is hilarious. When I was doing 100s, I'd declare being done at the end of each year's race.....then in late fall I'd start planning for the next one. Short-term amnesia, indeed! But now I really am done, at 63, so without further ado, to any Ski Talkers mtb riders that may be interested, I present the short version of:
TOM K'S LAST RACE REPORT:
The Butte 50 in Butte MT. Toughest 50 course i've ever ridden. And most beautiful.
Start time with a few of the fast females from my new backyard:
View attachment 174045
Finish Line:
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Stats (note level of salt encrustation):
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It was tough, but mostly very enjoyable. A great way to go out at my favorite race, in Mrs. K's home town!
That’s impressive at any age!Stats (note level of salt encrustation):
Yeah, like self preservation & common senseRacing kinda makes some things fuzzy...
That would be them! Plus your sense of ability level at any given level of fatigue! "I can MAKE it!" No you can't!Yeah, like self preservation & common sense
i know it's hard, as you put bib on, it's race mode on, but try to realize you won't be World Champion and just go to race for yourself and race with you, not with people, who have 50 years of training behind them, and who probably spend even nowadays more time on bike in week, then you do in month or even year This way you can actually have normal race. And if racing is fun for you, why not do it, even if you are not winning it. Afterall, there's only one person winning race, so it's hard to say he or she is the only one out of few 1000 people who has fun.So, yeah, we'll see if my short-term amnesia kicks in again next year when these races come around again. I'd be better off volunteering for them, I think.
That being said, it's still fun heading out the gate!
Isn’t high altitude mountain biking riding along at 90% and then being able to consistently punch little techy stuff over and over?no kidding
Yes to both parts--I neglect strength training because it bores me to tears. And now I no longer have the basement "workout" area with some decent weights. I have been avoiding taking any classes at the gym because gyms are germ factories anyway, and with Covid still out there, I just can't bring myself to get in there and even take classes. So many excuses, with time being one of them (it's all tennis tennis tennis tennis and work work work work.) Biking is an escape for me.Isn’t high altitude mountain biking riding along at 90% and then being able to consistently punch little techy stuff over and over?
He also does a ton of squats and related leg strength work. So when you see him ski or ride a bike, that shows up like crazy. We all just wonder why we are dying when we try to use our aerobic endurance system for work that by nature cannot rely just on that system alone.
I know something about this. I ride in a part of the country where until about five years ago a typical MTB trail consisted of little but "techy stuff," with occasional short respites. I'm no longer a regular racer, but I did learn along the way that 90% is too much. In my case I found that I had to dial it WAY back ahead of techy sections and level out the breathing, etc. Doing so allowed me to blow through with momentum and certainty, provided no over-confident roadies were actually sprawled in the wheelway. This bought me more in the end than pushing on the flats, because lots of people can ride easy stuff.riding at 90% and then having to punch over techy stuff
Dude, yes! All of this. So, imagine that on a trail that isn't super techy but has a lot of climbing, some quite steep, and my HR is already at 90%. The two races I just did ran the same course. And the first 23 minutes were brutal for me in terms of climbing. I hit max HR a couple times on that first segment. Gassed me for the remainder of the 16 miles. 2 miles of max followed by 13.5 miles of up and down on lesser grades but grades nonetheless, with one 3 mileish section of gradual downhill. That course at 8500 feet was too much for this aging person.I know something about this. I ride in a part of the country where until about five years ago a typical MTB trail consisted of little but "techy stuff," with occasional short respites. I'm no longer a regular racer, but I did learn along the way that 90% is too much. In my case I found that I had to dial it WAY back ahead of techy sections and level out the breathing, etc. Doing so allowed me to blow through with momentum and certainty, provided no over-confident roadies were actually sprawled in the wheelway. This bought me more in the end than pushing on the flats, because lots of people can ride easy stuff.
Another major enabler is knowing the techy sections better than your competitors do. It takes a huge amount of mental energy to guesstimate a line, and huge physical energy if you get it wrong. If you can go in on autopilot that's a major advantage.
Social rides don't prepare you for all this, especially if you are one of the stronger riders in your group. That's because you may go 110% on a difficult pitch, but then you stand around recovering while you wait for your buddies to clean up after their yard sales. Can't do that in a race.
I need to work in at least 2 days of strength. Even if I hold my nose and go into the gym and hit the leg press. I was doing 1-legged drills on the stationary bike this spring. My left leg is weaker than my right for sure.I love Moab-style riding, which often defines what I call low cadence, high torque climbing in tech -- think Deadman's in reverse. I find the biggest help in getting through this techy stuff when you're already nearly on the rivet is:
1. Squats -- and it doesn't take a lot of them.
2. One-legged pedaling drills.
Waiting for the flats advocates to chime in here on how they manage this.One-legged pedaling drills
Waiting for the flats advocates to chime in here on how they manage this.
I broke my hip late one night on a rope swing when I was 14yo. I did one legged drills all the way home !I can honestly say I've never done one legged drills. Ride rollers!
Necessity is the mother of invention!!I broke my hip late one night on a rope swing when I was 14yo. I did one legged drills all the way home !